Norman E. “Papa” Rabator

Posted
Monday, August 19, 2013 12:13 pm

Norman E. “Papa” Rabator, age 83, of Sheppard Drive, Warwick, died on August 12, 2013 at Kent County Memorial Hospital surrounded by his loving family. He was the husband of the late Margaret M. (Gorman) Rabator.

Born in Providence, a son of the late Edward and Clara (De Rocher) Rabator, he was raised by his loving and devoted grandmother, Mary Jane Rabator, and lived in Warwick since 1957. He was a United States Army veteran of the Korean War, serving as a Master Sergeant with the 43rd Signal Co. He later served with the RI Army National Guard for 11 years. He was a member of William Shields Post #43 American Legion. Mr. Rabator was employed at Uniroyal in Providence and Chicopee, Massachusetts for 33 years, retiring as a supervisor in 1979. He was later employed at Childreach in Warwick for 15 years. He was a lifetime member of Tri-City Lodge of Elks # 14 in Warwick, and was a member and volunteer at the Pilgrim Senior Center.

He is survived by three daughters: Deborah A. Taylor of Warwick, Diane Yukon of St. Maarten, and Margaret “Bunny” Gill of Warwick; eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

His funeral was held on Monday, August 19, from the Barrett & Cotter Funeral Home, 1328 Warwick Avenue, Spring Green, Warwick, with a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Kevin Church, 333 Sandy Lane, Warwick. Burial with military honors was in the Rhode Island Veterans’ Cemetery, Exeter.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to the American Red Cross.